Anti-corruption 'must be honest, must be clean'

Since the beginning of the term, more than 70 cadres and party members under the management of the Politburo and Secretariat have been subject to party discipline and criminal proceedings. Tens of thousands of billions of dong and hundreds of hectares of land have been proposed for recovery and handling. Nearly 700 groups and many individuals have been proposed for administrative disciplinary action.

Nearly 50 cases and more than 70 subjects were transferred to the investigation agency for consideration and handling, along with many impressive figures presented at the 16th meeting of the Central Steering Committee on anti-corruption at the end of July.

Impressive, but can't help but wonder when one case follows another; when many high-ranking officials are disciplined; when the fight against corruption "must be honest, must be clean" does not meet requirements.

It is an undeniable fact that most of the major corruption cases discovered, investigated and handled recently are related to the issue of “power” at high levels, “power” in places that were previously considered “forbidden zones”; even in anti-corruption agencies – agencies that are always considered “integral” and “clean”.

It is not difficult to explain this. The higher the position, the more conditions for corruption. Such corruption can originate from oneself when taking advantage of one’s position to plunder; or being taken advantage of, drawn into “interest groups” when one cannot resist the temptation of material and immaterial things.

It seems that for a long time now, there has been a tacit agreement that some places are considered “inviolable”, “forbidden zones”. That is why many people in those “forbidden zones”, in those “inviolable” places are free to do whatever they want without fear of being reminded or touched. If anything, it is only internal. There is no openness, no transparency, no announcement to the people!

It is also very subjective to assume that people in anti-corruption agencies are naturally clean and honest; naturally cannot be corrupt. Therefore, few people think that corruption must be fought right at the place where corruption is inspected, investigated, and handled.

Only when the leaders of the Party, the State and the Politburo are determined to act; determined to put all kinds of "dry wood, fresh wood" into the "furnace" to fight corruption, will the hidden corners of those who speak the Party's policies, preach morality, and grab money, gold, foreign currency, and land, be exposed, will the intricate relationships of taking advantage of power, taking advantage of loopholes, taking advantage of the trust of the Party, the State, and the people for personal gain be exposed.

Therefore, it is not surprising that from the case of Trinh Xuan Thanh driving a car with an illegal "blue plate", a series of serious violations causing budget losses of tens of thousands of billions of VND were brought to light; the wrongdoings of dozens of people, including Politburo members, were exposed.

And, it is not surprising that from the gambling case in Phu Tho, the case of Phan Van Anh Vu (aka Vu "aluminum"), the case of Dinh Ngoc He (aka Ut "bald"), the case that occurred at Mobifone Telecommunications Corporation and many other cases, when clarified, many people were surprised that the hands of many high-ranking officials, many Ministers, Central Party Committee members, some military and police generals were "involved" for a long time.

Therefore, once we have identified the “corrupt areas” and corrupt behaviors; once we have determined that fighting corruption “must be honest and clean”, we must be determined to do it to the end, determined to eliminate from our ranks those who abuse their power, abuse the mechanism, and take advantage of public service to harass and embezzle the State budget and people's tax money.

Many times, and at the 16th meeting of the Central Steering Committee on anti-corruption, General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong expressed his determination: "We must continue, without any forbidden zones, without stopping, without pause, without slowing down, even more resolutely". He said that this is a requirement of the revolution, an emotional need, a desire of the people, a desire of our Party and our people.

Those heartfelt and sincere words convey a strong message, an important motivation for those on the front lines of preventing and fighting corruption. It is also the order of life, the order of sustainable development, the order of an honest and serving administration./.